The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-04-01

mystery when ne reached u CaErlhSN'
Parker mad been rignt-Ghe little en-
graved locket lay open on the foor;
but beside it lay something, at the
SIGHT of which the mans heart gave a
great throb. A little curly head, a
pair of sweet blue eyes, a soft, uncer-
tain voice trying to stammer the word
'Ma-ma!" They all rOse wildly be-
fore him as he stood there with the
tinv ring of silky brown hair lying on
his omen palm. And it was Madge
who had cherished the curl which his
own lips had seemed to press so much
oftener than had hers! Madge, who
had thought to keep the token that
he had forgotten and since had regret.
ted so vainly. Well, before they had
parted, he must ask her to halve her
treasure with him.
There were very tender memories
stirring within him as he plodded his
way back to the station, and when he
at last reached the little room his face
was very gentle, albeit very grave.
YES, | have it, Parker. Thank you.
II you 20 into the larger room
| will sit with your mis-
tress," he said, in regard to the maids
anxious greeting; and when he and
Madge were alone he pulled his chair
closer to hers and began gravely:
Here is your locket."
Thank you," she said, Coldly. 81
hope it was not 8 very difficult mat
ter to get to the carriage"
Challoner bit his lip. DO you think
l minded the dificuIty?" he retorted,
passionately. Don't you know I'd
have risked my life for the sake OF res
cuing this?" He had laid the locket
on the table, but as Re spoke he open
ed his clenched hand, and the soft curl
gIistened brightly in the freight.
Madge started violently. "You
opened it?"
"No; it had opened itself by falling
on the floor" He leaned forward and
looked at her curiously. "And you
cared to keep it, Madge?"
Did I-care?"
Only three words, but the tone went
straight to her husbands heart. So
she had cared after all, and yet
"You went out again so soon." he
said doubtfully.
"And could l help that?" The girl
clasped her hands and looked steadi.
ly at him with great sorrowful eyes.
"You were always with your books;
and could | bear to live alone in these
rooms, where every chair that
her hands had touched, every picture
that her eyes had seen, spoke to me OF
my lost darling? No; l would go to
dances, theatres, anywhere where she
had never been, and therefore could
not haunt me-"
"You might have come to me?"
"To your" The dreary little laugh
with which she echoed his words was
not good to hear. You had your
work. You had never asked me to go
to the library; you had always left
me alone"
Challoner's face had grown very
white. "Madge," he said solemnly,
"God is my witness that i'll have
wronged you, it was through q mis-.
taken love, and not through careless
ness. When we-married 1.-THE loving
stress he laid upon the word was not
lost upon the girl, although her face
was turned from him, Sarah impress
ed upon me that il | pursued a plan
l had already suggested to her, and
asked you to act as my secretary,
should be dealing unfairly in letting
you expend your youth and spirits
on me and on my work, instead of on
the amusements and society life which
was natural to your age"
His very anxiety was making him
speak in a stiff, unusual fashion, but
the little clasped hands moved rest
lessly at his words. II should have
love ed the work"
The murmur was too soft for the
other to catch, and he went on slow
ly: Rightly o wrongly believed her
/ said to myself: You are a poor
man and must work hard; but how
ever great the strain may be it must
never touch your wife. If %youcannot
take her out yourself let your cousin
do SO in your stead. let"
Don't talk like that-don't talk
like that!' Madge had risen to bel
feet and the words came with an ire
~pressible sob. She waited a full min
ute and then added: ut makes OH,
wish things had been d~ifferent--al
most
When ChalIoner spoke again it wal
after a long pause. when did yor
cut this curl?''
"0n your birthday" said Madg
with an effort to speak easily. :"
brought her into your room, and shl
was dressed all in white"
81 thought it was blue
mo, J chm; all in white, with cora
beads"
"Ahl yes, to be sure. / remember
The young rogue broke the string, an,
you were so proud OF her strength
That uon wnnld nnf hava n naandad /,